tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8301600148359609702024-03-05T09:23:14.894-08:00Lawn and Tofu SaladThe slightly sardonic journey into eating vegan and trying not to look like a freak.keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830160014835960970.post-24894444239098484622013-11-07T20:16:00.000-08:002013-11-07T20:17:37.239-08:00It's Nice To Go TravellingSix months between posts? What can I say except...<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
I was in Europe, baby!</h2>
<div style="text-align: right;">
What a place. </div>
My adventures stretched from Clonakilty, Ireland in the west, to as far eat as <strong>Istanbul</strong>, Turkey, up to <strong>Berlin</strong>, Germany in the north and down to <strong>Malaga</strong>, Spain in the south. <br />
<br />
I won't lie, eating like a vegan while travelling is hard; eating like a vegan while travelling through <em>Europe</em>, is even harder. But, along the way I was able to pick up a few ideas of traditional dishes that are animal-product free and jotted them down.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
What we now have is a small, but tasty, list of ideas for the next six months...</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
What's after six months? Well, summer in Australia will be over and I fully intend to go back. ;)</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH75aCoDyPtsz0O_iXu2eyteFnBP3_vC_4EVqmNywIcg2huI2PID-ahXgBKA6PQ6i0jeUJkF1IkqjR70ytOgCjV9U_5Hekq05wQUsecdy4ktkIH-MRdEb2xVvFmbSMNv5h3O2sYfZSqi-x/s1600/vegan+notebook+page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH75aCoDyPtsz0O_iXu2eyteFnBP3_vC_4EVqmNywIcg2huI2PID-ahXgBKA6PQ6i0jeUJkF1IkqjR70ytOgCjV9U_5Hekq05wQUsecdy4ktkIH-MRdEb2xVvFmbSMNv5h3O2sYfZSqi-x/s320/vegan+notebook+page.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830160014835960970.post-19464607430057137002013-02-26T03:19:00.000-08:002013-02-26T03:21:06.782-08:00So I Eat Breakfast At 4pm. What Of It?<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back again!... forgot my own blog address - had to do a google search for it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who's enjoying summer? <span style="font-size: large;">HOLLAA!!</span> It's the best. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I'm not much of a breakfast eater, but I've got a great recipe I've found that<em> is</em> a breakfast. I usually eat this after work, at about 4pm.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's cool, it's colourful and it is pretty high in Omega-3 fatty acids*, which is what we like.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You'll need these...</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83Ph5mfeNKjly-LCZJz48kHLcI3h2AQO7bn6fWJ42aqWYV9mJDNzGZKPpRC2B9yhekWNni4aTPZtRJx_ha631mqsqiP4J7yLoimoJv6FuBuMp5AvRTaegOCr_4-xq6gpQA7rlCPNTwubk/s1600/DSC01086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83Ph5mfeNKjly-LCZJz48kHLcI3h2AQO7bn6fWJ42aqWYV9mJDNzGZKPpRC2B9yhekWNni4aTPZtRJx_ha631mqsqiP4J7yLoimoJv6FuBuMp5AvRTaegOCr_4-xq6gpQA7rlCPNTwubk/s400/DSC01086.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Granny Smith Apple (grated)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chia seeds</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Linseed seeds</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shredded coconut</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dried Cranberries</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crunchy nuts / seeds</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(eg. almonds or cashews - roasted is best - or sunflower seeds)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A dash of soy milk.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take ONE TABLESPOON of each dry ingredient, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">chuck it in your breakfast bowl and give it a stir.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVlNCFdm9jTcIv867AQ28Wan8rDs_LUJBegQA3vMSUKdANnANsDB9kGOU6ZvH7MOwul2pxTexRakPZh9wtyujObktoV38_cdGWkH46031PqeYcfur1q8qXSDFhyphenhyphen3CcRYiMR4HSnNWxW3p/s1600/DSC01083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVlNCFdm9jTcIv867AQ28Wan8rDs_LUJBegQA3vMSUKdANnANsDB9kGOU6ZvH7MOwul2pxTexRakPZh9wtyujObktoV38_cdGWkH46031PqeYcfur1q8qXSDFhyphenhyphen3CcRYiMR4HSnNWxW3p/s320/DSC01083.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shred your apple with a bit of good grating...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHzls4A0s-7jA3tgYaF6lF6B4S4fUGSFnIjrsHTuhm3CeG-FnOYr7p8br39p9LHxi34Z5H-NCI7ryvPV8gcgAKofczfVE23uQEuHeUonIJmRk61tCLNCbovZE851sBvwXZpO37cI9VTGw/s1600/DSC01088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHzls4A0s-7jA3tgYaF6lF6B4S4fUGSFnIjrsHTuhm3CeG-FnOYr7p8br39p9LHxi34Z5H-NCI7ryvPV8gcgAKofczfVE23uQEuHeUonIJmRk61tCLNCbovZE851sBvwXZpO37cI9VTGw/s400/DSC01088.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...add shredded apple to dry ingredients, along with a dash of milk and give it a stir, making sure all the little seeds are not left on the side of the bowl.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRXG8_LPSQCZxuKeuCiD8oSdiTJC5UR068EXv90pxfBOlrOQQuFMiVTrgXIxoluIuYZ9ZUp6sg-xyOfeGEpoEqwqh1ylFIK_uXr9QGqCs996Y6X9fvQBY2u6ka35JpukhpBUN445_2pd9/s1600/DSC01090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRXG8_LPSQCZxuKeuCiD8oSdiTJC5UR068EXv90pxfBOlrOQQuFMiVTrgXIxoluIuYZ9ZUp6sg-xyOfeGEpoEqwqh1ylFIK_uXr9QGqCs996Y6X9fvQBY2u6ka35JpukhpBUN445_2pd9/s640/DSC01090.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The liquid from the apple and the milk will be absorbed by the chia seeds and they'll swell up into a gel, don't freak out, that's what they are meant to do. By the end, there shouldn't be much liquid left at the bottom of the bowl, just a fresh mix of flavours.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMti-eb-MxKKgPFiay4ZUnpQIvistz_tLa16t-0ijHGH_gTOa_H7r6sJmSalBqsy1Xv2giu44qJCJzl0lzOuSffc9i9jW7NJNvRK29Y_4NnYqPCNg7aPZazVlhs0VedNb4y2lP-fPBrcn/s1600/DSC01093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQMti-eb-MxKKgPFiay4ZUnpQIvistz_tLa16t-0ijHGH_gTOa_H7r6sJmSalBqsy1Xv2giu44qJCJzl0lzOuSffc9i9jW7NJNvRK29Y_4NnYqPCNg7aPZazVlhs0VedNb4y2lP-fPBrcn/s320/DSC01093.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">By making up twice as much, you can store the dry ingredients ready to use quickly with just the grate of an apple.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">YUMMO!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: x-large;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now you, go off, make some breakfast, eat some green apple.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <<inspiration coming from <a href="http://www.therawtarian.com/rawtarians-raw-breakfast-bowl" target="_blank">here</a>, go visit her!>></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;">*whaaaaaaaaat? there's more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">CHEMISTRY NERD HERE!...</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjImOPx1vhDq0bAHeNFkAkLfpSHZM_dA6c1leGu4i2vj_Pu7Hb2WGnxTFKfBYwlCqUaBHNnTb_yOSQD-hmS-csH7OV9YB0i2G0zP-EBPBGdxzdu3szjWTiIElksVsyE3RR6ExvIRq2GPF/s1600/nerdGirl_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjImOPx1vhDq0bAHeNFkAkLfpSHZM_dA6c1leGu4i2vj_Pu7Hb2WGnxTFKfBYwlCqUaBHNnTb_yOSQD-hmS-csH7OV9YB0i2G0zP-EBPBGdxzdu3szjWTiIElksVsyE3RR6ExvIRq2GPF/s320/nerdGirl_sm.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjImOPx1vhDq0bAHeNFkAkLfpSHZM_dA6c1leGu4i2vj_Pu7Hb2WGnxTFKfBYwlCqUaBHNnTb_yOSQD-hmS-csH7OV9YB0i2G0zP-EBPBGdxzdu3szjWTiIElksVsyE3RR6ExvIRq2GPF/s1600/nerdGirl_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjImOPx1vhDq0bAHeNFkAkLfpSHZM_dA6c1leGu4i2vj_Pu7Hb2WGnxTFKfBYwlCqUaBHNnTb_yOSQD-hmS-csH7OV9YB0i2G0zP-EBPBGdxzdu3szjWTiIElksVsyE3RR6ExvIRq2GPF/s1600/nerdGirl_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyjImOPx1vhDq0bAHeNFkAkLfpSHZM_dA6c1leGu4i2vj_Pu7Hb2WGnxTFKfBYwlCqUaBHNnTb_yOSQD-hmS-csH7OV9YB0i2G0zP-EBPBGdxzdu3szjWTiIElksVsyE3RR6ExvIRq2GPF/s1600/nerdGirl_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There are actually a few types of </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Omega-3 fatty acids</span>. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The 'Omega' refers to the methyl end of the carbon chain and the '3' indicates where the</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> first double bond can be found</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> (in reference to the methyl group).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> These acids are polyunsaturated, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">which means they have </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">more than one double bond in their chain </span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">- that's really good for reacting with the less wanted chemicals in your body and getting rid of them.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Man, how fun is Chemistry! </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/ALAnumbering.png/799px-ALAnumbering.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="File:ALAnumbering.png" border="0" height="44" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/ALAnumbering.png/799px-ALAnumbering.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Here's a structure of ALA - alpha linolenic acid - in case you were interested.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> You were, weren't you? You love chemistry too, I know.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/ALAnumbering.png"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
</div>
keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830160014835960970.post-81557249550785025222012-12-31T16:49:00.002-08:002012-12-31T16:53:46.889-08:00Save The Uni StudentsI confess, I am one of those people who block your supermarket aisle because I'm checking out the ingredients list on the back of the packaging.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
*raises hand* Yes, that's me.</div>
<br />
So, in order to de-clutter the floors of our local IGAs everywhere, here's a recipe for a Spicy Peanut Sauce - no need to buy Kantong or Chicken Tonight, make your own and know what's in it. <br />
And save those poor uni students from tripping over you as they reach for the Mi Goreng.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Spicy Peanut Sauce</h3>
<h4 style="text-align: center;">
(serves 8)</h4>
Prepare veggies and rice, as per a stir-fry.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sauce Ingredients:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 Glugful of <strong>Sesame Oil</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 brown <strong>onion</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a couple of cloves of <strong>garlic</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 knob of <strong>ginger</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(every time I write that, I think "you're a knob!") </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/3-1/2 cup of <strong>peanut butter</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(I prefer <em>'no salt'</em> and <em>'super crunchy'</em>. </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
If they had <em>'ridiculously super crunchy'</em>, I'd be in that, too.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/4 cup <strong>soy sauce</strong> or tamari</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/4 cup or the juice of two <strong>limes</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2 dessert spoons of<strong> brown sugar</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 tsp <strong>cayenne pepper</strong> (or a chilli)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/4 cup of <strong>sesame seeds</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
400mL <strong>coconut cream</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<strong></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNF98buPZ48Jh2s2hUGHTqa38_Nq1XHEn9B_LWL3qv1UbRrGu1vSoANHRQ4XeUbzUjAaEgiFy5K8Wr3LAdiXXwXBPS072wAm_ZGU1hAl416y3WfEnWOAJrDWKfu6Ob0WtuPgdQzNH0SJe/s1600/DSC01010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNF98buPZ48Jh2s2hUGHTqa38_Nq1XHEn9B_LWL3qv1UbRrGu1vSoANHRQ4XeUbzUjAaEgiFy5K8Wr3LAdiXXwXBPS072wAm_ZGU1hAl416y3WfEnWOAJrDWKfu6Ob0WtuPgdQzNH0SJe/s640/DSC01010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<h4 style="text-align: left;">
What to do, what to do... </h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1. Fry up onions in the sesame oil until becoming translucent, add garlic and ginger.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
2. Reduce heat, add peanut butter and stir it around as it melts.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3. Add soy sauce, lime juice, sugar, cayenne pepper and sesame seeds and stir throughly.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
4. Stir in coconut cream. Allow to simmer until it reduces slightly.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<h4 style="text-align: right;">
Notes:</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ideally, you should taste the flavours in this order: sweet peanut, salt, lime, spicy.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If one of these is missing or isn't strong enough for your liking, add more accordingly. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
As I always say with cayenne pepper, add more carefully. </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
You can always add more, it's very hard to add less.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you are skilled, all your stirfry ingredients will be ready at the same time and you can just serve it up and pour it over the top. Otherwise, leave it and reheat when needed. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixivZ7yo8U_q0T6QhFVOKPwTeJBUuQPzhAMF3zJZbHQujF81sJirQlrM0tmNXT-PSZNh-Znc6dUP8HzqhiUXu52avO853HlwSRQ_1eSZ6lCyhJWNXBSlJk0iNdAv9RBWcbxtNbYV3M6Z38/s1600/20121218_191806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixivZ7yo8U_q0T6QhFVOKPwTeJBUuQPzhAMF3zJZbHQujF81sJirQlrM0tmNXT-PSZNh-Znc6dUP8HzqhiUXu52avO853HlwSRQ_1eSZ6lCyhJWNXBSlJk0iNdAv9RBWcbxtNbYV3M6Z38/s400/20121218_191806.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmmKPoIyDuyOXMO9bU18YfIsk4HvjzzBxdVvEiTM10gAH4kAmf2WA9SWnkgnoLfZWQwh8R7VcVdNsiHsiTQrh0PUIkm54Jk0gMg0kvKipcwQVDYWAtbsklPWA4th4T8j1fKlYyuRLY-wa/s1600/20121218_191759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmmKPoIyDuyOXMO9bU18YfIsk4HvjzzBxdVvEiTM10gAH4kAmf2WA9SWnkgnoLfZWQwh8R7VcVdNsiHsiTQrh0PUIkm54Jk0gMg0kvKipcwQVDYWAtbsklPWA4th4T8j1fKlYyuRLY-wa/s1600/20121218_191759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYmmKPoIyDuyOXMO9bU18YfIsk4HvjzzBxdVvEiTM10gAH4kAmf2WA9SWnkgnoLfZWQwh8R7VcVdNsiHsiTQrh0PUIkm54Jk0gMg0kvKipcwQVDYWAtbsklPWA4th4T8j1fKlYyuRLY-wa/s320/20121218_191759.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Veggies, Rice and Sauce all ready for a grand feast!<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The sauce freezes very well, although with all stirfry dishes, capsicum and snow peas don't reheat well.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Vegan Eating and a Happy New Year!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830160014835960970.post-84387583779051280132012-12-30T22:21:00.000-08:002012-12-31T16:55:16.153-08:00We Are Japanese, if you please...<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Konichiwa!</span></h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
One of the questions I often receive from people when I tell them I'm a vegan, is<br />
<h3 style="text-align: right;">
...what, exactly, do you eat?</h3>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-kGUm4tfrVPV41sx1b9brGx_giV-hci7QOAUcAY0OTuiOl-IrjcqGJk2khQwOvYfOcKsNq34zAxjdZXBZ0UtXehJ7vk_H77S6u-vFeeqF0bIigcF78S6XBsUBO1UosTm1fWftWJixCPW/s1600/DSC01072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-kGUm4tfrVPV41sx1b9brGx_giV-hci7QOAUcAY0OTuiOl-IrjcqGJk2khQwOvYfOcKsNq34zAxjdZXBZ0UtXehJ7vk_H77S6u-vFeeqF0bIigcF78S6XBsUBO1UosTm1fWftWJixCPW/s320/DSC01072.JPG" width="240" /></a>While internally, I want to burst into a musical number where the chorus follows along the lines of, 'what <em>don't</em> I eat!', jazz hands included, I try to refrain from the showtunes and just have a few good answers up my sleeve.<br />
<br />
Sushi is a food most people are aware of, and can understand a vegetarian and vegan option fairly easily. <br />
<br />
<br />
Now, I'm no Japanese, so my finickiness for the finer details of this process do not exist. I'll give it to your straight - what I write is how to make something that resembles what you buy in the shop, with some ideas about variations, and not something you'd expect in a gourmet Japanese restaurant.<br />
But, you can still eat mine with chopsticks, if you like.<br />
<br />
<h4>
PRAISE FOR SUSHI! </h4>
When you look at the quantities of the veggies in this recipe, you'll cleverly deduce that this is a good recipe for using up leftover veggies. Rice freezes well (and heaven knows I always make too much rice), so this recipe is easy to have on hand. Can be made the day before, open to many variations and is perfect to being to a picnic or potluck because of the variety and small portions!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">ビーガン寿司</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
SUSHI FOR VEGANS! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(this makes enough for 3)</div>
What you'll need...<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
1/2 a <strong>carrot</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
1/2 a <strong>cucumber</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
1/2 a <strong>capsicum</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
1/2 an <strong>avocado</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
2 cups <strong>cooked rice</strong> (add garlic and olive oil during the cooking process for lovely rice)</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
3 sheets of sushi seaweed paper (<strong>nori</strong>)</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">ステップ</span><span style="font-size: large;">ワン</span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Step One)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Cut all your veggies into thin strips, no longer than 8cm. The thinner the better. Trim the capsicums so that they are as straight as possible, and not curved at the end. Slice your avocado in long strips.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgwR0if8lP2D1Gnvi1TCnY-PFNb1djWg0ziLCS5v2VM93Ip_nUcpMv_qCN8sIjx2F79iCtogx8U6eTbf6q2nbZXNptA_YGN0LPb0Qv8TNeQPWaG3m7FpMbovdu8cHBRU5qR6M6S1nd57w/s1600/DSC01051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgwR0if8lP2D1Gnvi1TCnY-PFNb1djWg0ziLCS5v2VM93Ip_nUcpMv_qCN8sIjx2F79iCtogx8U6eTbf6q2nbZXNptA_YGN0LPb0Qv8TNeQPWaG3m7FpMbovdu8cHBRU5qR6M6S1nd57w/s320/DSC01051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGzGkboH0BEwDjg5yVRer98bVeYzMWwz1QAEbzdocQnoDP0gTZNM68IX7MY9Owvi8V0JWvuqIIGfkRQMayFOeFXBsSJfw8EUubOVwZrwt5hNrVf3fYFjoSvuApwCDsRENGC0IbQVDkrHZ/s1600/DSC01055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGzGkboH0BEwDjg5yVRer98bVeYzMWwz1QAEbzdocQnoDP0gTZNM68IX7MY9Owvi8V0JWvuqIIGfkRQMayFOeFXBsSJfw8EUubOVwZrwt5hNrVf3fYFjoSvuApwCDsRENGC0IbQVDkrHZ/s320/DSC01055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtM0lcxmRKB5Kr5SUWNSiPXNspxEWPYjWo7IM4XqpN_s9ERPGGRLpHI2_RmBpRqUIgLpUd2naRygNscjaWv00mQiVBmKyYlVcBGgdIjINDIARZ1T3jNQn0igyLlP-HCsYsUC5obqVzk1-/s1600/DSC01049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtM0lcxmRKB5Kr5SUWNSiPXNspxEWPYjWo7IM4XqpN_s9ERPGGRLpHI2_RmBpRqUIgLpUd2naRygNscjaWv00mQiVBmKyYlVcBGgdIjINDIARZ1T3jNQn0igyLlP-HCsYsUC5obqVzk1-/s320/DSC01049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnH6dadyiqL_Vuuy7MOHuCEy-VS62n768Pt-ZJ9X5bg5xdiFueodnUjjl19cfJchfEDQiljynpi06fYcJ9Fo5XseDJ3hl7gd0PY0_snjinrYLjSnW6tz43fDiRhiJYvH-P3vWrEL2SnbOX/s1600/DSC01054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnH6dadyiqL_Vuuy7MOHuCEy-VS62n768Pt-ZJ9X5bg5xdiFueodnUjjl19cfJchfEDQiljynpi06fYcJ9Fo5XseDJ3hl7gd0PY0_snjinrYLjSnW6tz43fDiRhiJYvH-P3vWrEL2SnbOX/s320/DSC01054.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1_MCK1f2n6xMTBnEcGZmGtUzsKmpFdvh7Az2-yU1_1Ze56P9JqZWWbLtNA4t4jpoJ8If6o7siGZh52NKL2Esg6aR41JG-RkiKqrwgz7nym7_zPhRunNbB5_itOVTDpWP5xdsXe3LQWP3/s1600/DSC01052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1_MCK1f2n6xMTBnEcGZmGtUzsKmpFdvh7Az2-yU1_1Ze56P9JqZWWbLtNA4t4jpoJ8If6o7siGZh52NKL2Esg6aR41JG-RkiKqrwgz7nym7_zPhRunNbB5_itOVTDpWP5xdsXe3LQWP3/s320/DSC01052.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">番号2</span><span style="font-size: large;">ステップ</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Step Two)</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Place Nori shiny-side down, and place 3/4 cup of rice over, spreading evenly until 2cm from the far edge. The more even the rice, the better the sushi will be.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1T6XeUMPIirBirJZSZXqeGP6AYL_PSFD4Xhcbx4A9kQ4IGTnI1t8lh2m1d-QijFxjMoNeZIc9pa71B2AsNl-OWSha7nmK_vvrEETMfqu5_QsOx7T5E3t8m_Qg36AtfLoA_eKsJyk42vT/s1600/DSC01057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1T6XeUMPIirBirJZSZXqeGP6AYL_PSFD4Xhcbx4A9kQ4IGTnI1t8lh2m1d-QijFxjMoNeZIc9pa71B2AsNl-OWSha7nmK_vvrEETMfqu5_QsOx7T5E3t8m_Qg36AtfLoA_eKsJyk42vT/s400/DSC01057.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">ナンバースリー</span><span style="font-size: large;">ステップ</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Step Three)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Layer a few of each vegetable onto the near end of the rice, a few cms from the edge, and overlapping the ends of the vegetable. The reason for this is so that the middle of any piece of sushi isn't clumped. I had no avocado, so I've used sliced Snow Peas in this one.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3kx2CM2-7KeRARgmNCwZW8vjL6INWfqUoUdTesmNf1c6cTRCwYHfHyEk8G_oxWoZKl4njBGD-AiLWtErulN7P4V350FV1sFDJhZWW5XkeIzup-Yszg6BlLeY4bxceQcvEUZhaI_VdM45/s1600/DSC01060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3kx2CM2-7KeRARgmNCwZW8vjL6INWfqUoUdTesmNf1c6cTRCwYHfHyEk8G_oxWoZKl4njBGD-AiLWtErulN7P4V350FV1sFDJhZWW5XkeIzup-Yszg6BlLeY4bxceQcvEUZhaI_VdM45/s320/DSC01060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgsJYpuNCFUAm70iXgaNmWA6SOFh0c7PAUOD-k5z-etZfdxgqfAXlwQRUcqUvVZll4dam3cr-G-D8jbQkeRfN9U9trU9ToxSrh7C2ULcgt9ccbTHIC3t2f60d_8VY2RGdSTgxAnc6-a37/s1600/DSC01061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgsJYpuNCFUAm70iXgaNmWA6SOFh0c7PAUOD-k5z-etZfdxgqfAXlwQRUcqUvVZll4dam3cr-G-D8jbQkeRfN9U9trU9ToxSrh7C2ULcgt9ccbTHIC3t2f60d_8VY2RGdSTgxAnc6-a37/s320/DSC01061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfo28ksMKh48Xl8n_YYKkVCdAyAWeFzaL0h6JNL-9s8W-bJKqwe-5bW-r8KccJ6XioR4gRx9nb3DOxqJE8Evr4zLaTBTP-YH9JJASMwQSYH2QzZqzlpjruLkuvkML7OSH8-ixkYHmR8x7/s1600/DSC01062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXfo28ksMKh48Xl8n_YYKkVCdAyAWeFzaL0h6JNL-9s8W-bJKqwe-5bW-r8KccJ6XioR4gRx9nb3DOxqJE8Evr4zLaTBTP-YH9JJASMwQSYH2QzZqzlpjruLkuvkML7OSH8-ixkYHmR8x7/s320/DSC01062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVq7KMQrlLt_2u14XqSjGu0YlGLmC3TfkjJYok1Nw3hgDrj7Q0gd3HmY8Bs5Z6Zv67pyeocPDDbJAECh3I0at04txR_3SZkOatRQn6FG8p_pYKOwuxA_9YKH3CASSW2QltYZBO1-orp5Oc/s1600/DSC01063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVq7KMQrlLt_2u14XqSjGu0YlGLmC3TfkjJYok1Nw3hgDrj7Q0gd3HmY8Bs5Z6Zv67pyeocPDDbJAECh3I0at04txR_3SZkOatRQn6FG8p_pYKOwuxA_9YKH3CASSW2QltYZBO1-orp5Oc/s320/DSC01063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">ナンバーフォー</span><span style="font-size: large;">ステップ</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Step Four)</div>
Carefully holding the veggies inside, roll the sushi up until the rice finishes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw9Z2luEIDyxs-7dx-X66Uyv3ctSQK1_WV4r73RgamUj-yIkY3RYxt_Fni1B9U9OEsScH612zCVgTYwbFm06g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">ナンバーファイブステップ</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>(Step Five)</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Wet the remaining end with water and finish rolling, </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
holding the sushi down on the wet end for a few seconds. (see video above)</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">ナンバーシックスステップ</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>(Step Six)<br />
</div>
Carefully cut off the messy ends with a serrated knife and then proceed along the sushi cutting at 2cm intervals.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzPdHkJoihut6rBnMf7_nohouaUtuip5-PJwd4gcltHt5pEn5u0ypbl0xiYfCAoOa6qt1KB3BPcNG__8xZW2w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span id="goog_1504535107"></span><span id="goog_1504535108"></span><br />
<br />
Serve with soy sauce or tamari.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbhAYF2mmlTY05pdqLviMSRZF1AZx6pP1Wox3EBL4tXQOP-SvrHSErJxnY_GRonwvVc8Rn7lp1rUIvbKa3wcs27Wc4wB6OrZ0PGKc9mQZSqh4qeFbFNe99iN6hCUZqTXzcQmR17ZkBgcQ/s1600/DSC01068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxbhAYF2mmlTY05pdqLviMSRZF1AZx6pP1Wox3EBL4tXQOP-SvrHSErJxnY_GRonwvVc8Rn7lp1rUIvbKa3wcs27Wc4wB6OrZ0PGKc9mQZSqh4qeFbFNe99iN6hCUZqTXzcQmR17ZkBgcQ/s320/DSC01068.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9G5iPxsF0tg77epa7SMdELSYRvBffCbraXq6Ux9Ld3D8r70JiPqOImh6jHOEPX4JamMEZrT-G66QOqyFavjz6_F-HvKilDz1_Xf6khYOKqXW_ZrcYoYqPnSt-i9fvxxA8dZfipqwAtl1D/s1600/DSC01069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9G5iPxsF0tg77epa7SMdELSYRvBffCbraXq6Ux9Ld3D8r70JiPqOImh6jHOEPX4JamMEZrT-G66QOqyFavjz6_F-HvKilDz1_Xf6khYOKqXW_ZrcYoYqPnSt-i9fvxxA8dZfipqwAtl1D/s320/DSC01069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I have experimented a lot with different things to put in the sushi, mainly stemming from whatever needed to be used in the next days. Cranberries - I liked. Basil Pesto - not so great. Figs... well, they all create an interesting dining experience.<br />
Why not try your own variations and let me know how they turned out...<br />
<br />
...but for now, eat up, me hearties!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830160014835960970.post-508083152108666712012-12-05T08:52:00.002-08:002012-12-31T16:57:02.544-08:00Oat & Seed Slice, Life is Nice.ummm.. I'm back?<br />
You know that it's been a long time between drinks (posts) when you need to reset your password in order to access your blog - because you've forgotten it. <br />
<br />
What's been happening in the six(cough)ish months since I've been blog-less? A whole lot. <br />
...Winter has come and gone, with me passing out my <a href="http://chickpeaswithmylentils.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/beans-beans-theyre-good-for-your-heart.html" target="_blank">Nacho Beans Mix</a> recipe by the hundreds. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
Okay, so, well, one guy asked about it, in passing.</div>
<br />
...I've become fixated with idea of growing my own vegetables, mainly from the wholistic idea that I'm cheap and don't want to pay for them...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
...and our rabbits make poo for free.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...I feel great. Really great. I celebrated my first unofficial year of being a vegan earlier this month - officially, on January 1st - and I am amazed at myself and what I've learnt. About food and about people, too.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(I always want to balance my exuding enthusiam at how great I feel </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
with how much work I've put into this, </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
and how much resistance you will get from the world around you </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
if you try this too.)</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So, without further ado, here is the recipe for Oat & Seed slice, the snack I am currently waiting to cool whilst I write this.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This is a simple one, folks!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
200g of Rolled Oats (That's about 2 1/4 cups)</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
90mL Maple Syrup, or Honey, or Agave Syrup</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
75g of Nuttelex</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
A small handful each of sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pepitas, chia seeds...</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<ol>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Pre-heat oven to 160 C (fan-forced)</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Mix ingredients together. Melting the Nuttelex a little in the microwave first does wonders for the sanity in this project.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Spread mixture on a shallowish tray, lined with baking paper is best.</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
Back for 30-35 minutes.</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Done.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Coming out of the oven, the oats should be golden. Let it cool and harden before eating.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Some other notes - nuts work well in this recipe, berries DO NOT. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Don't try goji berries especially. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They don't work. RECIPE IDEA FAIL.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
I add a Tablespoon of Black-strap molasses which tastes like sugar and salt and licorice melted together (do we know for sure that it's not???), but it's high in iron, so chuck a bit in, all you vegans.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Depending on how thinkly you spread it and how long you cook it, it might break nicely into muesli bar-type chunks. You may also be left with a whole heap of rolled oats covered in honey; this makes for a great breakfast cereal. The ratio isn't perfected, so I still usually only get a few large chunks and lots of crumbly. But, I can't get enough of this stuff, and every morning that I wake up and know that I don't have any cooked, I feel a little disappointed with life.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm here with my computer, my tall glass of cold soy milk and one very delicious slice. See y'all next time.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_g2P0Ek0-LDcQOpCr7WUxD6uZCFUcQ8ExYWKifDTDXt-yLzfp44Go0FsdR-MjnLAWXRbLD0sE8M5wV4wwNrwJ192NlTSD2E90vLehLiYDQUxiuReOWoYQHoIgVPhMYtapparjJmkxEY4/s1600/oatslice+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_g2P0Ek0-LDcQOpCr7WUxD6uZCFUcQ8ExYWKifDTDXt-yLzfp44Go0FsdR-MjnLAWXRbLD0sE8M5wV4wwNrwJ192NlTSD2E90vLehLiYDQUxiuReOWoYQHoIgVPhMYtapparjJmkxEY4/s320/oatslice+002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHaHe-Ml3rHF_VrbOjStXg9jU0aQ44EyqsH62TFVbiAx8ylGNbhtDLBt1ZJHEf3QPGvAXu453oIMcTBNImhXElTwWMvpOVlkX13Hu1wTSDb59A60HtyleawMc0vMhTzT1rE_rCLeLn_zV/s1600/oatslice+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHaHe-Ml3rHF_VrbOjStXg9jU0aQ44EyqsH62TFVbiAx8ylGNbhtDLBt1ZJHEf3QPGvAXu453oIMcTBNImhXElTwWMvpOVlkX13Hu1wTSDb59A60HtyleawMc0vMhTzT1rE_rCLeLn_zV/s200/oatslice+004.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1Sdht8ViAXfSeY58UIaaPQnSfKKOvdhKxT2RSB6o1X_EI___0CvjK_kTAZUohZZFu2aQbSqP7NTgfNKR02oFYqKwlohJHou6ldyzhpu7Wpmgki7G0_oCqm_3cmVydXElJA8368X_UDdn/s1600/oatslice+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1Sdht8ViAXfSeY58UIaaPQnSfKKOvdhKxT2RSB6o1X_EI___0CvjK_kTAZUohZZFu2aQbSqP7NTgfNKR02oFYqKwlohJHou6ldyzhpu7Wpmgki7G0_oCqm_3cmVydXElJA8368X_UDdn/s200/oatslice+003.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsOsaUxZRErE9JZ9OywmA71H4xTLnJliUegmXbgivyv2ey60KlbMrDeGZ9U29t0o1bLWMZTWUI4q6nHaKWseFE6a9ONbroa_VwKaT38lJpvq_DK_3gB-gYa4vzyGahl-7_PnN9Xv5VKQh/s1600/oatslice+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsOsaUxZRErE9JZ9OywmA71H4xTLnJliUegmXbgivyv2ey60KlbMrDeGZ9U29t0o1bLWMZTWUI4q6nHaKWseFE6a9ONbroa_VwKaT38lJpvq_DK_3gB-gYa4vzyGahl-7_PnN9Xv5VKQh/s640/oatslice+001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830160014835960970.post-72926952345457979702012-04-21T22:45:00.001-07:002012-04-21T22:50:56.228-07:00Butter Chicken - without the butter, without the chickenThe past short hiatus of posts has been exclusively due to the fact that I've been working, cooking and continuing in my quest to be the hippiest hipster of them all by trying to grow my own organic garlic.<br />
But mostly I've been working <em>all the time</em>.<br />
<br />
So the little patch of cultivated ground dedicated to said garlic forest remains upturned but unplanted.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
(On a side note, when I dug up this little spot of land, which is not bigger than 2m2, to a depth of about 30 cm... I discovered 6 whole bricks and 10 half-bricks. It appears I had chosen the previous dumping ground for the entire block's building surplus. On the other hand, it's really sunny there.)</div>
<br />
Nevertheless, I have managed to bring you a perfected recipe that is sure to please during these cooler Autumn months.<br />
<br />
Introducing... Butter Chicken! - without the butter and without the chicken.<br />
My meat loving friends very much hate this one and argue comprehensively that it definitely isn't butter and it definitely isn't chicken so therefore, it definitely isn't Vegan Butter Chicken.<br />
I don't much mind however, because it tastes better than anything I've ever cooked from scratch and it's so much cheaper than a top-class indian restaurant.<br />
So butter chicken defending champions of the meat, turn away now.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
SPICES:</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
1/4 tsp cinnamon</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
2 cloves of minced garlic</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
2 tsp minced ginger</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
1/2 tsp tumeric</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
1 tsp paprika</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
1 tsp chilli paste</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
2 Tbsp ground coriander</div>
VEGETABLES:<br />
1 small onion<br />
6 tomatoes, diced<br />
7 button mushrooms<br />
2 cups of Kale, chopped roughly<br />
1 T tomato paste<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
PROTEIN:</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
2 cups of protein*</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
1/4 cup peanut butter</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
1/2 cup cashews, chopped</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
CREAMY GOODNESS:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3 Tbsp nuttelex/non-dairy margarine</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
400 mL coconut cream</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
*Tofu or chickpeas or a mixture of both or even kidney beans...</div>
I haven't included cooking rice to accompany this dish, but it is assumed. I also wilt the <strong>kale</strong> using the steamer part of my rice cooker and then add it at the end. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
1. In a fry pan on a medium-high heat, melt the <strong>margarine</strong>, adding the <strong>onion</strong> and <strong>cinnamon</strong> and stir around.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
2. Lower the heat a little and add the <strong>garlic</strong> and <strong>ginger</strong>.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
3. Add the remaining <strong>spices</strong> and cook for a couple of minutes.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
4. Add all the remaining ingredients and let simmer for 15 minutes.</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
(<strong>mushrooms</strong>,<strong> tomatoes</strong>,<strong> paste</strong>,<strong> peanut butter</strong>,<strong> cashews</strong>,<strong> coconut cream</strong>)</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
5. Pinch of salt to taste.</div>
<br />
With rice, makes a meal for 6.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bon appetite, hipsters.</div>keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830160014835960970.post-24133987119001087102012-03-09T23:04:00.000-08:002012-03-09T23:04:52.984-08:00Chewing The Polyunsaturated FatThis week's DBAVT (don't become a vegan to) thought...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5g2kuP3MdGxvh1cSOovxn5W9J0zwQZsTHy7Wr9B8s0NckIVJB4mVSPbd_9t3ckg0MU6opoHrLR1iuJRcmmI7qUtbOerTk0NIaFPGXuQLs2u4P8bk2hb8aFNFCqhORMYFHJSsxkn6PCTjt/s1600/blogfromthespiralsofmynotebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5g2kuP3MdGxvh1cSOovxn5W9J0zwQZsTHy7Wr9B8s0NckIVJB4mVSPbd_9t3ckg0MU6opoHrLR1iuJRcmmI7qUtbOerTk0NIaFPGXuQLs2u4P8bk2hb8aFNFCqhORMYFHJSsxkn6PCTjt/s320/blogfromthespiralsofmynotebook.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH11LF-qSV-CSWnsa1H-PSfycXvDLQlRliftfnUfyse5NWOoiHtX5wzWJiBFKz6ZiMzHujCqd184mjuYaYI7sNqEgnf6ynTdvjIQjO695s6yENfu_8rox0ziMwMPu3U8Xvj0ow7V6wD5Jm/s1600/DNAVtoloseweight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH11LF-qSV-CSWnsa1H-PSfycXvDLQlRliftfnUfyse5NWOoiHtX5wzWJiBFKz6ZiMzHujCqd184mjuYaYI7sNqEgnf6ynTdvjIQjO695s6yENfu_8rox0ziMwMPu3U8Xvj0ow7V6wD5Jm/s640/DNAVtoloseweight.jpg" width="480" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The point of the DBAVT drawing is this: If you want a weight-loss diet, there are much, much simpler ones. For weight loss, I strongly advocate the use of fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean meats and low fat dairy.<br />
Pretty much, don't decide to go vegan to lose weight, then decide it's all too hard and give up on losing weight all together. If you've decided to lose weight, excellent!... but take baby steps. <br />
<br />
Invest in good quality low-fat food choices. Sacrifice a small amount of flavour and extra money, and buy meat without the fat. (And preferably free-range)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Investigate portion control. </div><div style="text-align: center;">(How BIG should my serving size be?)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Exercise a bit more than you used to. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Identify the times and foods that are your weakness </div><div style="text-align: center;">and make a plan that lets you be strong</div><div style="text-align: center;">(ie. substitution or avoidance).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Learn about food and even aim for a few vegan meals a week... some are even listed on this blog to get you started.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">This vegan blogger hasn't lost any weight since changing her diet - although there is a noticable change in fat and muscle distribution... that is, I now have more muscle and less fat!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There aren't too many vegan foods that are extremely high in fat content, but if you're worried that being a vegan will make you <em>too</em> skinny, then adding avocados, peanuts or unrefined oils to a dish is a great place to start. </div>keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830160014835960970.post-87422657769334737222012-03-04T00:24:00.002-08:002012-03-04T00:29:02.605-08:00Mum, Are Humming Birds Are Made From Hummus? Yes.Possibly one of the world's simplest vegan dishes - with the exception of cutting up a few veggies and calling it done - has got to be hummus. The other day I made this is in about 10 minutes, from start to finish, because I'd promised a friend some hummus for his birthday and I possessed poor time management.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">THROW INTO A FOOD PROCESSOR:<br />
1 x 400g tin of chickpeas</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 Tbsp tahini paste</div><div style="text-align: center;">3 garlic cloves</div><div style="text-align: center;">the juice of 1 lemon</div><div style="text-align: center;">100mL olive oil</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp ground cumin</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp cayenne pepper</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">BLEND.</div><div style="text-align: right;">Done.</div>Well, maybe you might need to 1/2 cup of water if you want a smoother consistency, or some paprika for even more exotic flavour, but pretty much, you're done.<br />
Serve with crusty Turkish bread or chopped veggies. <br />
<br />
The thing about hummus is, just like a teenage girl's break-up, it's much better the next day. <br />
<br />
Freezes well, and I don't know, I'm pretty sure you can go nuts tweaking this recipe to suit whatever is in your pantry. Broccoli hummus? Well, I <em>am</em> always trying to hide broccoli in everything (cos it's up there for iron content, down there for taste), but maybe that's a bit far. <br />
<div style="text-align: right;">Turmeric, however, is great for your brain, and I've added that before to my hummus with joyous results.</div><div style="text-align: right;">Get cracking, hepcats.</div>keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830160014835960970.post-10761949385218947982012-02-29T23:30:00.001-08:002012-02-29T23:45:37.704-08:00Eventually, We All Expire.Did you know that I've spent several years thinking that paprika didn't have a stong smell, <br />
and mostly no taste at all?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">Turns out, once we cleaned out our spice rack, </div><div style="text-align: right;">that the paprika I had been using had a best before date of:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong> 'AUG 94'</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I've now bought more paprika and can safely say that it does have a smell. And a taste.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">Use fresh products, people.</div>keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830160014835960970.post-62904712172334348572012-02-21T22:25:00.000-08:002012-02-21T22:25:35.825-08:00Don't Become A Vegan To...It's just over a week since Valentines Day and the thought occurred to me that I should post this Valentines Day-themed drawing I created a month ago.<br />
Perhaps I didn't post this on Valentines Day because I was too busy crying alone in the bathroom, surrounded by my 15 cats, whilst listen to Adele on repeat...<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><em>"...never mind I'll find, someone like you..."</em></div><br />
...or perhaps I was too busy living the good life. You decide. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5g2kuP3MdGxvh1cSOovxn5W9J0zwQZsTHy7Wr9B8s0NckIVJB4mVSPbd_9t3ckg0MU6opoHrLR1iuJRcmmI7qUtbOerTk0NIaFPGXuQLs2u4P8bk2hb8aFNFCqhORMYFHJSsxkn6PCTjt/s1600/blogfromthespiralsofmynotebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5g2kuP3MdGxvh1cSOovxn5W9J0zwQZsTHy7Wr9B8s0NckIVJB4mVSPbd_9t3ckg0MU6opoHrLR1iuJRcmmI7qUtbOerTk0NIaFPGXuQLs2u4P8bk2hb8aFNFCqhORMYFHJSsxkn6PCTjt/s400/blogfromthespiralsofmynotebook.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
There are many reasons to become a vegan... but this is not one of them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHtNmOmsVy4PqrcGaXk5oRr5z6pW7kucK4ay2cgyE6szTX3oox1_WDHe7CUqyd5tOyTqFUm8QvkR5MHaDrfPz_IOUVdrlkwaO5UH7WZ-d9wmuntx9qqmPPfajENnNGyan3IHkb2A_0Z2y/s1600/DBAVtoattractguys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHtNmOmsVy4PqrcGaXk5oRr5z6pW7kucK4ay2cgyE6szTX3oox1_WDHe7CUqyd5tOyTqFUm8QvkR5MHaDrfPz_IOUVdrlkwaO5UH7WZ-d9wmuntx9qqmPPfajENnNGyan3IHkb2A_0Z2y/s640/DBAVtoattractguys.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830160014835960970.post-23720098071651652212012-02-19T23:51:00.000-08:002012-02-20T00:23:50.494-08:00How To Win Friends And Influence CarnivoresAs sure as the sky is blue, any vegan has started out with skeptic friends. <br />
To be fair, they probably tried Tofu as an impressionable 8-year old at their Primary School's Multicultual Day (cue: hippy parents) and thenceforth...<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">(side note: isn't that the best word ever?)</div>...decided that all food void of animal products tasted like raw sponge.<br />
<br />
It takes a great many experiences to rewrite the impressions made by this one. I would know. That kid was me.<br />
<br />
However now in my arsenal of facts and figures and statistics, I also have one recipe guaranteed to draw a concession that maybe, perhaps, just this once... a vegan option is better than a dairy one.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">Clearly this recipe does not usually include meat. </div><div style="text-align: right;">#carnivoresconceednothing</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here we go... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><u>Vegan Banana Bread</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">(recipe borrowed/stolen/altered from <a href="http://dairyfreecooking.about.com/od/breadsbakery/r/vegan_banana_bread_recipe.htm" target="_blank">here</a>)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Los Ingredientes:</div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: right;">2 cups plain flour</div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: right;">3/4 cups raw or white sugar </div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: right;">1/2 cup dark brown sugar</div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: right;">3/4 tsp baking soda</div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: right;">3/4 tsp salt</div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: right;">3/4 tsp cinnamon</div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: right;">1/2 cup soy milk </div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: right;">1 tsp. apple cider vinegar</div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: right;">4-5 (over) ripe bananas, mashed</div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: right;">1/4 cup canola oil</div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: right;">2 Tbsp maple syrup</div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: right;">1 tsp. vanilla extract</div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: right;">1 cup walnuts, whole or broken</div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: right;">1/4 cup pepitas</div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: right;">1/4 cup sesame seeds</div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: left;">What to do...</div><div class="ingredient" style="text-align: center;">One. boring prep stuff</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: right;">Preheat the oven to 180 C, fan-forced. Oil up a 9"x5" loaf pan.</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: center;">TWO! Sift-sift-arama</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: right;"> Get your mediumest bowl and add (sifted!!) flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Then the sugars. </div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: right;">Sift the dark brown sugar last because it sifts poorly and leaves a powdered sieve.</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: center;">Three. Sir Mix-a-lot</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: right;">Find your large mixing bowl and add the milk and apple cider vinegar and WHISK your heart away. Maybe sing some Julia Andrews while you do so. I enjoy a little 'Climb Every Mountain' with my mixing. It inspires me.</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: right;">Once mixed, LEAVE. Not the room, just the milk solution. Let it rest for 2 minutes. I'm timing you...</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: center;">Fooooour. Addition <strike>and subtraction.</strike></div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: right;">To the milk solution, finally add (you've been waiting for this) the mashed banana, maple syrup, oil and vanilla extract and whisk again. Add the dry ingredients and whisk/mix, but this time, not until your heart is content. Just until your heart is barely satisfied and your ingredients are <em>just</em> mixed.</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: center;">5ive. (Remember the boyband?) Nuttyness.</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: right;">Fold in the walnuts, pepitas and sesame seeds. The latter two ingredients are not essential, but as a vegan it's an extra dose of iron (pepitas) and calcium (sesame seeds) and that's never a bad thing. Pepitas add great texture, sesame seeds finish unnoticable and they add nothing bad to the taste.</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: center;">6ix. (The lesser known spin-off boyband). BAKE <strike>SALE</strike>!!</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="instructions" style="text-align: right;">Pour your mix into the loaf pan, chuck into the oven for 1 hour and 25 minutes. A little burntness adds crunchiness, I always say, and charcoal aids digestion. That being said, start checking it from 1 hr 20 minutes but be prepared for it to need up to 1 hour 30 minutes.</div><div style="text-align: right;">Once it is tolerably touchable with oven mitts, tip out and let sit/stand/precariously perch on a wire rack to cool. </div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Seven. Cut Up And Eat.</div><div style="text-align: right;">Cut up and eat.</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;">From the many superstars who've ventured to try this alternative, the result back is unanimous. </div><div style="text-align: left;">#ican'tbelieveitsvegan</div><div style="text-align: center;">#tastesensation</div><div style="text-align: right;">#betterthantheoriginal</div><div style="text-align: right;">...just like Back To The Future II.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36L33422wF0Rnzbi7GgMmR2Mn8J4X6gBJ2-gDxWuQxVIRXDnw1PloyAmHFHS1BeSzFuUujd8A1fqeXXE-7_dOAzKxDBgBq1nuGZ2_srlYud26YU1V8Hx3HviMdryhU_gGq8YnHv5AoNQ0/s1600/bananabreadfar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36L33422wF0Rnzbi7GgMmR2Mn8J4X6gBJ2-gDxWuQxVIRXDnw1PloyAmHFHS1BeSzFuUujd8A1fqeXXE-7_dOAzKxDBgBq1nuGZ2_srlYud26YU1V8Hx3HviMdryhU_gGq8YnHv5AoNQ0/s400/bananabreadfar.jpg" width="400" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The walnuts decided to run out, so this vegan banana bread is topped with pepitas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15KdfjAkOR8wKZbikPExjti2MpYjNYyOw_hP9ZK-t-alVfiLHPZWtSDtaCQNdKVtzKjct2qVwlwr1gGYFAT6_PEvG7QMPbJYmjdIvQqDyaDx7pdLgzJ8r5LPngDYa4QzuUPnKhSmMsBmS/s1600/bananabreadmed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15KdfjAkOR8wKZbikPExjti2MpYjNYyOw_hP9ZK-t-alVfiLHPZWtSDtaCQNdKVtzKjct2qVwlwr1gGYFAT6_PEvG7QMPbJYmjdIvQqDyaDx7pdLgzJ8r5LPngDYa4QzuUPnKhSmMsBmS/s320/bananabreadmed.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCpEIfUf9Y4rpq-uK9Rs0HvOH6PeNmQIAuaPwzm26fxJjm17amInOOLjJJfwGEvewnEtUn03IEPSM0I1ODGMP8OL1XQ2z8KSOxIpcgdNNCQqPdrtH-u-i5uMHPfDAgboB69O6wAYXdpM9/s1600/bananabreadcloseup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCpEIfUf9Y4rpq-uK9Rs0HvOH6PeNmQIAuaPwzm26fxJjm17amInOOLjJJfwGEvewnEtUn03IEPSM0I1ODGMP8OL1XQ2z8KSOxIpcgdNNCQqPdrtH-u-i5uMHPfDAgboB69O6wAYXdpM9/s320/bananabreadcloseup.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div></div>keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830160014835960970.post-72016887782801280332012-02-15T06:06:00.000-08:002012-02-15T06:06:38.315-08:00Hey Pesto!I met a herb the other day. <br />
Basil The Herb.<br />
And now, we're in love.<br />
<br />
Just how was it that I'd gone through my 26 years of existance and never once come across basil?<br />
I've lived a sheltered life, I'm sure.<br />
<br />
Last night I made a Basil Pesto, serving size for an entree.... about 4. <br />
I ate it all.<br />
I love Basil. Did I mention that?<br />
<br />
Pesto is a really easy spread to make and it's perfect for pre-dinner snacks on crusty bread, or mixed with pasta for an italian mains.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Check it out...</div><br />
2 cups of Basil leaves.<br />
3 cloves of fresh garlic<br />
1/3 cup of pine nuts<br />
1/3 nutritional yeast (this is the substitute for parmesan cheese... and it's great!)<br />
4 or 5 sun-dried tomatoes<br />
1/3 cup of olive oil or flaxseed oil or sesame oil*<br />
salt & pepper & sesame seeds<br />
<br />
*I usually keep the oil from every jar of sun-dried tomatoes I finish and create a little tasty oil culmination. This spread is a great place to pour that in.<br />
<br />
Add the salt and pepper to taste, the sesame seeds don't add too much flavour so add them for an excellent source of Calcium.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">(It's quite a forgiving recipe in terms of ingredients; feel free to add walnuts/almonds/cashews instead, or as well as pine nuts... add chia seeds for Omega 3... remove the sun-dried tomato for a less sweet pesto.)</div><br />
Step 2:<br />
BLEND.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And hey <em>pesto</em>, you're done!</div>keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830160014835960970.post-56662068837843543342012-02-15T05:35:00.000-08:002012-02-15T05:35:47.854-08:00Freshness Tip Of The Week<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>When choosing the freshest carrot, go with the one that is the least floppiest.</em></span></blockquote>keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830160014835960970.post-26096813301985960792012-02-10T03:37:00.000-08:002012-02-10T03:37:11.401-08:00Aching For Some Bacon?Most people, when I tell them I'm vegan, can pretty quickly tell me of the one or two foods that they simply could not give up.<br />
<br />
Steak.<br />
<br />
Cheese.<br />
<br />
Mochas. <br />
<div style="text-align: right;">(That was me)</div>Corn chips. <br />
<div style="text-align: right;">(...umm, you can still eat them.)</div>Beer.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">(...Do you even know what a vegan is?)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Two things are involved here: the first is habitual eating, which are statements that begin with, </div><div style="text-align: left;">"I always..." or "Whenever..."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;"><em>"I always have a steak once a week with mates from work."</em></div><div style="text-align: right;"><em>"Whenever I'm bored, I eat chocolate."</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">These are the actions that require no thinking, and just eating. Breaking these habits takes time, which is why I wouldn't suggest anyone try a vegan diet for less than three weeks, but if adequate substitutes are replaced consistantly, soon your mind will do the work for you. It will retrain itself to make the connections between the trigger and food you allow yourself to eat. Habitual eating, once changed, is easily maintained.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Number Two reason for <em>Foods I'd Never Give Up</em> is cravings. You know the ones... where all you want in the world is that piece of gooey soft cheese. Or a hot chocolate. Or a chunk of red meat.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;"><em>Give me that chocolate, and no one gets hurt!!</em></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Should we practice extreme self-denial in these situations and block our ears to the evil inner voice whispering of culinary delights....?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Actually, I don't think we should.</div><div style="text-align: right;">Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Yeah, nah, I don't.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And this is why. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>THE ILL-FOUNDED THEORIES OF ONE PRACTISING VEGAN</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This heretical notion is based on the idea that your body will know what it's lacking and try to communicate it to us. It's like Lassie, trying to get us to come help, except, most of the time, we aren't fluent in Dog.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;"><em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">What is it, Lassie?</span></em></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We pick up the signal that something is wrong, but we go about fixing it incorrectly.</div><div style="text-align: left;">And here's my theory.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><u>If you crave....</u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Chocolate, candy, exceptionally sweet items...</div><div style="text-align: right;">... your body is really wanting vitamins. </div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>: Want sweets? Cut up red and orange and yellow capsicums. Carrots. Oranges. Tomatoes. </div><div style="text-align: center;">(Add leafy greens to the little salad and you are set). </div><div style="text-align: center;">Eat a good portion size of this and if, once you have finished you still want chocolate, go for it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> If you are starting as a vegan and allowing yourself some slack, then sure, grab cows' chocolate. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Otherwise another option is soy chocolate. It's not as good as cows' (IMO) but hey, it's sweet. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And that's what you want, right?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Milk products...</div><div style="text-align: right;">... your body is wanting protein.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Nom Noms. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>: The best thing you can do, expecially if you crave this at similiar times each day, is to include a little more protein in the meal before (it'll keep you fuller for longer). </div><div style="text-align: center;">Quick sources of protein are nuts and seeds, but lentils also don't take too long to cook, and up the portion size for beans and chickpeas in your next prepared meal.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Also, soy milk. Almond milk. Oat milk. Rice milk. Hazelnut milk.</div><div style="text-align: right;"><em>(Cue: Meet The Parents - "Oh, you can milk just about anything with nipples"</em></div><div style="text-align: right;"><em>.. only, cross out the nipples bit and replace it with any plant-based product)</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Red meat...</div><div style="text-align: right;">... your body is craving iron.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>:.... eat more leafy greens? *cowers* </div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay, don't hate me for saying it again, but leafy greens are pretty much the winners in life. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The darker the leaf, the more iron. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Also, get in the habit of throwing added extras into your food:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sun-dried tomatoes. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Pepitas!! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sesame seeds!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunflower seeds. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Dried Apricots.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Make sure to eat these while eating some vitamin C at the same time and this will help your body absorb to maximum effect (Orange Juice, capsiums, dark leafy greens)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Also, even though it's vegan, if you crave...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Corn chips, hot chips...</div><div style="text-align: right;">... your body needs carbohydrates!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>SOLUTION</strong>: Get the good stuff into you. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Up on the whole grain everything, down on the refined bleached groups. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I am of the opinion that carbs are great and incredibly essential to a healthy lifestyle, </div><div style="text-align: center;">so cutting out carbs altogether will start up the cravings for the bad stuff. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And, I don't know about you, but I don't think I have enough self-control to walk past a fish and chip shop </div><div style="text-align: center;">when I'm starving for hot chips.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So there it is. If anyone would have trouble giving up cows' chocolate, it would be me. And, for awhile it was. </div><div style="text-align: left;">But it gets easier. I started listening to my body more, adjusting my vegan diet to experiment with satisfying my cravings, and that's what I got.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: right;">So, do yourself a favour -</div><div style="text-align: right;">listen to your body</div><div style="text-align: right;"> and fill up on the good stuff.</div>keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830160014835960970.post-48775672252221344302012-02-03T08:09:00.000-08:002012-02-03T08:09:03.996-08:00You Can Misquote Me On That...Misquote of the week: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"Let he who is without nutrient deficiency throw the first stone fruit."</span></blockquote>.keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-830160014835960970.post-48062811360238494802012-02-01T23:15:00.001-08:002012-02-21T22:37:44.745-08:00Beans, Beans, They're Good For Your Heart...Yesterday I cooked up a big bean mix. <br />
BEANS?!<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">*shudder*</div>Possibly my least favourite texture in the world - aside from some slimey Okra I once ate during my time in Africa - beans were extremely low on my shopping list during my pre-vegan times. <br />
But, they are protein and WHAT great protein they give! <br />
<div style="text-align: right;">(Kidney beans offer ~ 13g of protein/ 1 cup... I need 27-49g a day)</div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div>So, like the glass slipper left on a staircase, one good recipe can change your life. Or, at least, your attitude towards beans.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In an effort to avoid pre-mixed anything, I grabbed a bunch of spices from the shops and jumped into the world of legume cuisine feet first. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Garlic & Onion</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Cumin</strong> - ("don't leave yet, I'm cumin!"... hahaha best food joke ever)</div><strong>Paprika</strong><br />
<strong>Ground Coriander</strong><br />
Fry them up, add <strong>beans</strong>, <strong>tomato paste</strong> and <strong>chopped tomatoes</strong>.<br />
If you add <strong>mushrooms</strong>, they'll absorb the flavour overnight and will be pretty amazing for that dish the next day.<br />
Then add.... <strong>kidney beans</strong>! Yuck. But they aren't so bad. I get pretty lazy and buy them in a tin these days, although one day I'll get my act together and plan what I'm going to eat more then 6 seconds before I start...<br />
Add <strong>borlotti beans</strong> for a runnier stew-like consistancy, or <strong>refried beans</strong> for a thicker paste. I think I like the texture of refried beans even <em>less</em> than kidney beans. <br />
Add <strong>chilli flakes</strong> for hotness, and any patriotic Australians ought to add <strong>vegemite. </strong><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">(actually, as a flavouring to meat sauces, vegemite is ridiculously effective. It replaces all salt and adds a depth of colour and flavour to the mix, creating an added cheesiness. I don't eat cheese, you know, cos of the whole vegan thing, so it's a life saver. Weird, but true.)</div><br />
Okay, so suddenly beans are not the arch-enemy I once thought. Chuck it on tacos/enchiladas/wraps instead of minced meat... or thin it up the make the world's most delicious "chilli" - (that is, what Americans call a tomatoy meaty spicy saucy dip-like concoction. Not entirely sure of the Australian equivalent name. If you know, tell me!). <br />
<br />
Serve with avocado and corn chips. De-light!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">(P.S. dried herbs are amazing for everything so don't be afraid to add heaps.)</div>Boring details:<br />
<br />
2 cloves garlic, crushed<br />
1 onion, diced<br />
3 teaspoons Cumin<br />
2 teaspoons Coriander ground<br />
2 teaspoons Paprika<br />
100g tomato paste<br />
2 tomatoes, diced<br />
4 button mushrooms, chopped<br />
800g (combined) kidney beans, borlotti beans, 4 bean mix, refried beans...<br />
2 tablespoons vegemite<br />
1 teaspoon chilli paste (to taste... you can always add more, but never less!)<br />
<div align="right"><br />
</div><div align="right">It's entirely possibly they this recipe will invoke farting. </div><div align="right">Apologies to all the friends who sit close by and have to endure the smell. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUZIDUsUARxv8CxhTRNCPzEUJXms02Y6sMpukqg4-QoPPvsiWpzU2SE3dq7qhf4gGAgy0OgOCKaDV8SVz2ZL503O8H27Kk4Ma9O8xPqvPhO7Y_k33wXajHyzsnjeTIfLq4cCfW-le7hS-/s1600/beanblog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUZIDUsUARxv8CxhTRNCPzEUJXms02Y6sMpukqg4-QoPPvsiWpzU2SE3dq7qhf4gGAgy0OgOCKaDV8SVz2ZL503O8H27Kk4Ma9O8xPqvPhO7Y_k33wXajHyzsnjeTIfLq4cCfW-le7hS-/s640/beanblog1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4gpd6qUv6evq8mk1lWaa149_CrltVNa6GFObfbpnqzcH0OR2Tej6-xqjBDqVqlFvZKA5UP8wSXWcnTsrHk5EifHKb7Qs_jjvOJldO0-D_UVxjay8qffmrz-txRYS5EDZz1_h9Rjy2jeB/s1600/beanblog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4gpd6qUv6evq8mk1lWaa149_CrltVNa6GFObfbpnqzcH0OR2Tej6-xqjBDqVqlFvZKA5UP8wSXWcnTsrHk5EifHKb7Qs_jjvOJldO0-D_UVxjay8qffmrz-txRYS5EDZz1_h9Rjy2jeB/s200/beanblog3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQ6KN-4l1sLRhwRshqnlvYiWmU64A30XkJt2UfcYMWXeN1G7ecEAKe0_0FpxRKqyTZkY110uSbCG6YqcKnOo0haC8eG149LAnTGRtNL2n_avu5irv71vjS7xC82mEGhfi23WcGH3uH1kd/s1600/beanblog4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQ6KN-4l1sLRhwRshqnlvYiWmU64A30XkJt2UfcYMWXeN1G7ecEAKe0_0FpxRKqyTZkY110uSbCG6YqcKnOo0haC8eG149LAnTGRtNL2n_avu5irv71vjS7xC82mEGhfi23WcGH3uH1kd/s200/beanblog4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIN-j0Ny9xHYxgfwvbYhE1Bv9dmZmMGi2bAirFY9nGS9_b8_ADeICL1ltPDMx6Lay2sQPogCUdkLi6qq7eNz9gThwXj5w5unNuKPQm1KtmwvJVKIVCVEjzbn64iVi3SMV9tx3xCgA0zsBt/s1600/beanblog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIN-j0Ny9xHYxgfwvbYhE1Bv9dmZmMGi2bAirFY9nGS9_b8_ADeICL1ltPDMx6Lay2sQPogCUdkLi6qq7eNz9gThwXj5w5unNuKPQm1KtmwvJVKIVCVEjzbn64iVi3SMV9tx3xCgA0zsBt/s200/beanblog2.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>keepingthemadnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884063822988147415noreply@blogger.com0